www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Now that I've insulted you I have a question I need answering!

We live on a National Bike Route and have coffee/snack facilities on the premises so if I wanted to offer a 'bike stop-over' at my place what would you deem necessary to fulfill the potential need for a 'servicing station' for bike users?

For example, is there a universal bike stand that can take all models for working on? What type of tools/spares would be commonly used? Etc.

I am one, absolutely mad on it. As well as riding 1000's of miles a year, racing, coaching youngsters and being an active committee member of my local club.

It's well entrenched in any club or social ride over 20 miles or so to have a cafe stop. A nice selection of drinks, hot in winter, both in summer and a good selection of cakes plus the ability to refill water bottles (some cafe's refuse to do this).

Tools wise any decent set of hex keys will suffice for most riders. Pedal spanner may be needed occasionally. Tyre levers would be good for anyone suffering flats. You could even keep a stock of innertubes in to sell. 700 x 23/28 should suffice. Some gravel bikes will go up to 35mm tyres though. Chain quick links would be good too, 8 through to 11 speed.
Gear and brake cables maybe. You'll find that most addicted lycra warriors will carry spares with them though. A decent track pump is a must too.

Stand wise I find the aldi/lidl ones pretty good for £30/40 and will hold most bikes. Ladies old school sloping top tubes are awkward though.

The worlds your lobster, I would say somewhere secure fo the bike(s) is a must, some of the road bikes are north of £8k

There are so many specialist tools

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

As for a stand, something like this, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycle-Mechanic ... 988253c4ec folding and will hold 90% of bikes

I don't ride any more, and have never been a granola muncher

I used to ride a lot until I considered it too dangerous to ride here in Essex with the countless morons driving 4x4's wanting all the road. I used to carry spare tubes for punctures and a repair kit too. Most experienced riders do preventative maintenance and check their bikes regularly before a ride. I suffered broken spokes a bit but this is not a roadside repair to fix a wheel.

As for eating we did stop at cafes to have a hot drink in cold weather, but for digestion we only would have toast with it. Bananas, muesli bars and Isostar was what we had on the move. I hope this helps.


DWD

Our place already offers free water bottle refills but we also offer bottled water (still/fizzy) for 30p a go - the number of people that are amazed at the low cost is staggering!

I kinda thought the avid cyclist would carry a basic toolset - that side of it doesn't bother me as we have many, many day-cyclists around here that do the run on hire bikes for the scenery and exercise. I've even carried one exhausted lady and her bike into Oban (a 50 mile round trip for me) as a favour and on numerous occasions taken the unprepared back to their local hotels (they ride out thinking it's 'easy' and 'not that far' only to find they can't get up some of the hills and it's a "damn sight further than I thought" )

A secure bike stand will be part of the attraction when stopping here but given the opportunity for theft (about 'zero' - I mean, where would they go that we couldn't just follow them?!) it's less of an issue.

Nice comment on inner tubes and links though ..... that's the kind of stuff I need. I also wasn't aware that HEX keys are the tool-of-trade on bikes I'm still of the 'one-spanner-with-lots-of-holes-in-it' guy......

Any more???

These are quite a clever idea but overkill for a safe location like yours. http://www.cyclepods.co.uk/cycle-storag ... air-stand/

Here's a list of tools that they have attached

- Phillips and flat head screwdrivers.
- Allen key set - 2,2.5,3.4,5,6,8mm
- Torx T.25.
- Pedal Spanner.
- Adjustable spanner.
- 2x steel tyre levers.

If its off road do the bikes get very muddy if so what about a pressure washer and or tap/hose to clean bikes down, mucoff or similar and some lubricants for relubrication of chains and gears.

First aid stuff Do cyclists still use sudo crem, tiger balm

Nice list, thanks Darren

Yeah, medical(ish) stuff. Got to be (sadly) aware of litigation when dealing with such but Compeed (anti blister pads etc) would probably be popular!

Got a pressure washer but most of the cycling is 'road' stuff so not a lot of mud involved.

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Very useful